Welcome to the first Friday in March! It’s March! That means that I have been in quarantine for one year and 12 days!

Truly it is spring! My hay fever is worse, we’ve had a few days of sunny weather but still cold nights, and then it went back to buckets of rain. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rain. It’s just that the switching back and forth as quickly as it did a few times this weeks makes it difficult to plan anything.

Meanwhile, we have the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about the pandemic, five stories about haters and other deplorables, and five videas (plus things I wrote and some notable obituaries).

Stories of the Week:

The real reason for the Dr. Seuss freakout.

Universal basic income experiment results in more full-time jobs.

Opinion | The worst-kept secret: Conservatism has no value(s).

Human origins: ‘Little Foot’ fossil’s big journey out of Africa.

Predatory octopuses were drilling into clamshells at least 75 million years ago.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Trans Youth Could Face Juvenile Detention Under 2021’s Worst Anti-Trans Bill – Students would be slapped with a misdemeanor under Minnesota law, resulting in possible criminal penalties.

Jen Psaki masterfully shuts down reporter’s dumb question about trans people.

Gay Blogger Andy Towle Exits Towleroad.

Major Christian adoption agency in U.S. to start working with LGBTQ people.

The Equality Act is important but it won’t solve workplace discrimination.

This Week in the Pandemic:

COVID-19 vaccine confidence grows as side effect worries fade.

Biden’s Covid aid bill advances in Senate – Republicans are planning to make life as excruciating as possible ahead of passage.

Why kids are hitting the pandemic wall.

Texas Gov. Abbott stalled federal offer to test migrants then blamed them for spreading Covid.

Ron DeSantis Is Selling Vaccines To Rich Floridians – Florida’s only elected state-wide Democrat is furious about Gov. Ron DeSantis favoring donor communities in vaccine distribution.

h4>This Week in Haters, Seditionists, and Other Deplorable People:

National Guard General Testifies About SecDef’s ‘Unusual’ Limits On 1-6 – General Walker did not receive word that Pentagon officials had authorized his request until 5:08 p.m. — three hours and 19 minutes after he had received Chief Sund’s plea.

Listen: RNC Lawyer Makes Stunning Admission to Supreme Court Justices That GOP Needs Voter Suppression Laws to Win.

‘Un-Christian Liar’ Ted Cruz Pummeled for Lie Blaming Biden for Totally Non-Existent ‘Ban’ on Dr. Suess Books.

You Will Love Stacey Abrams’ Answer About Donald 2024 – Stacey Abrams should get a gold medal for her answer to James Corden.

CPAC Engaged in Bitter Behind-the-Scenes Feud With Company That Built Its Controversial Stage.

In Memoriam:

Vernon Jordan, activist and former Clinton advisor, dies at 85.

Things I wrote:

WandaVision gives us some answers and fills in Wanda’s backstory.

Statistics are seldom simple — or, a queer survivor unpacks survival, visibility, and feeling safe to be out.

Tuesday Tidbits 3/2/2021: Stop being doormats.

Hey, it’s March Fourth! So, let’s March Forth.

Videos!

Republicans Unleash A Tidal Wave Of Anti-Voting Legislation:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Trump, Cruz and Noem Repeat Their Insane Lies at CPAC: A Closer Look:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Biden’s Vaccine Announcement, Texas Ditches Masks | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Dr. Seuss Is Not Cancelled, It’s Just Time To Retire Books With Racist Imagery:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click here.)

Spoiler Alert: AGATHA ALL ALONG REMIX – AFROBOIYT:

(If embedding doesn’t work, click https://youtu.be/Wb1nQuIMS7Y.)